Kathleen Quirk Named in Top Five of Mining’s Most Influential Executives

November 19, 2024 - Kathleen Quirk, Freeport’s President and Chief Executive Officer, has been recognized as one of the mining industry’s most influential leaders, securing the fourth spot on the Mining Journal’s Top 50 Most Influential 2024 list.

Quirk is on the annual list with executives from mining and metals companies as well as government officials around the world. She finished one notch above U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Quirk “took the helm of the world's largest copper miner this year, with copper in her veins after being part of the Freeport team for decades working with and supporting long time chief executive Richard Adkerson, who is chair,” the Journal wrote in support of her inclusion. “Freeport has achieved continuity at the top while other companies struggle with leadership transition and succession.

“Quirk is already managing the next growth steps of the company with expansion projects on the cards in Chile and Arizona, while sending exploration teams to explore in new jurisdictions. Freeport is one of several companies working on sulphide (sic) leaching technology, and is leading the pack with early gains.”

Quirk was one of 12 women who made the 2024 list. The Journal’s ESG Mining Company Index found that 61 of some of the largest mining companies, with a combined market cap of $1.2 trillion, had an average of 31 percent female participation on the board. This percentage is 8 points higher than the global average.